The Carbon Results Framework Project

The project will create a framework for visualizing whole life carbon results, specifically presenting results as a range of values.

Current life-cycle assessment (LCA) and embodied carbon estimation tools present environmental impact results as a single, deterministic value. In some cases, this single value is presented with many significant digits. This gives users a sense of accuracy that may not appropriately reflect the sophistication of the tool’s analysis. The Carbon Results Framework Project will more accurately present the analytical sophistication of tools by adding a range of values to their environmental impact results. Rather than reporting a single value, this project will develop guiding principles for tools to present a range of values across all life cycle stages.

In current system-level or component-level carbon comparisons supported by tools, a single value of embodied carbon results is presented for each option being compared. This leads to a distinct “winner” among the options. With results presented as a range, users will have the ability to better understand the overlap between materials or products in these comparisons. From this, users will understand that the two best choices of a “losing” option may exceed the carbon performance of the worst choices of the “winning” option.

This project will create the framework for this advanced embodied carbon results visualization, and the ability to view results as a range. This framework will be utilized by Building Transparency’s suite of tools, including the EC3 Tool and tallyCAT (currently in development). Each of these tools supports a diverse range of building design professionals, including engineers, architects, contractors, and owners. Creating this visualization framework will improve carbon literacy and consistency in reporting across the AEC industry and allow for more accurate comparisons of carbon reduction options.